The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemingway

I have come to really appreciate sources that give me background on the author and time period that help draw out the author’s vision for their work and not merely my own reaction to the piece. That’s exactly what Apologia has done for high schoolers with their latest American Literature curriculum. It is well written, thought provoking, and masterfully curated. I’m excited to have a guide that will help my daughter explore American literature from a biblical worldview.

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

I love Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. The story is a stunning adventure of two children journeying through space to rescue their missing father from the terrifying IT. [book-info] Difficult themes in A Wrinkle in Time The beauty of L’Engle’s storytelling, however, is that she presents difficult themes and asks challenging questions of her…

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The Annotated Alice by Lewis Carroll

I’m currently reading Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland, and it is a treasure trove of plays with language. One of my favorite moments comes from the third chapter, in which Alice finds herself among a group of very political animals washed up on an island. Cold and wet, the Mouse tries to solve the problem by…

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Love and Friendship by Jane Austen

I recently discovered that Jane Austen wrote some lesser known works when she was younger. As I’ve started reading more Austen, these early novels have been one of my favorite finds. Love and Friendship is a treasure in that it gives us a glimpse into Austen’s worldview as a young girl. Understanding more about the…

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The Chosen: A Novel by Chaim Potok

As my daughter started digging into the Hebrew language, I remembered Chaim Potok’s beautiful book, The Chosen, which follows to young Jewish boys in their journey of friendship in New York City during World War II. This book provides a glimpse into two different Jewish families as they wrestle with retaining their faith and religious…

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